Q&A with NY 26th Round Pick Collin Slaybaugh

Alisha Ogbewele

06/18/2014

We sat down with Yankees' 26th round pick, Collin Slaybaugh, for a Draft Day Q&A session. Find out what the catcher/outfielder from Washington State University says about his game, how he feels being drafted by the Yankees, what he'll bring to the Yankees organization, and much more.

PinstripesPlus.com: Tell us what it feels like to be selected by the New York Yankees.

Collin Slaybaugh: It feels great. I had gotten the call right beforehand. I talked to them earlier that morning. So my whole family was just waiting around at my house watching the draft, and then heard my name come up. Everybody just got really excited and right afterwards we ran off to the store and everybody bought Yankees gear. It just feels great to be drafted by the Yankees and then given a shot here as a senior. It's the most storied program in Major League history.

PinstripesPlus.com: Talk about your game a little bit. What type of player are you and how do you see your fitting in with the Yankees?

Slaybaugh: I'm a little bit of an atypical guy for the most part. The Yankees drafted me as a catcher, my primary position there, but [I have] a little different tool set than most catchers, [I'm] a little bit faster than most. I played a couple games at centerfield so far this year. I played a lot of centerfield and right field in college last year. So, it's a little different right now. I'll just go in and do whatever I can.

PinstripesPlus.com: What are your strengths and your weaknesses?

Slaybaugh: My strengths are definitely my versatility and speed. I'm able to help out in the outfield. I can do some of the smaller things. So, just kind of all-around versatility. And then, weaknesses? Consistency and I don't really hit for that much power so I guess that's the one flaw at my position.

PinstripesPlus.com: Who would you compare your game to at the Major League level so Yankees' fans have an idea of what your game is like?

Slaybaugh: I'm not sure about that. I don't know too many centerfielder/catchers. I can't really think of a good comparison.

PinstripesPlus.com: Do you see yourself staying at the same position or do you think you'll be moved to another position?

Slaybaugh: Personally, I see myself being a catcher, but I'm not sure yet. The coaches know a lot of more than I do. So if they tell me my future is going to be in the outfield, then I'm with that.

PinstripesPlus.com: What would you say is your best moment in baseball and why?

Slaybaugh: My best moment in baseball was when I was 17-years old. My summer ball team that I've been with for five years went to the Babe Ruth World Series, and we won actually. I got to catch the final out, and run with the team on the mound for a dogpile.

PinstripesPlus.com: Who was your favorite team and player growing up?

Slaybaugh: I'm from the Northwest up in Washington, so my favorite team growing up was the Mariners. That's what got me started on baseball, when they went on their ‘95 run, the first time they went to the playoffs. My favorite player was probably Dan Wilson. He was a catcher for the Mariners at the time.

PinstripesPlus.com: What were your immediate plans after you were drafted by the Yankees? Was it your intention to sign right away and start your career immediately?

Slaybaugh: Yeah. As soon as I got drafted I talked to the area scout who drafted me and we made plans to come fly as soon as possible. So I came out Monday and got everything started to get here in time for the season.

PinstripesPlus.com: How does it feel to be so successful as a walk-on in college?

Slaybaugh: It feels good. I kind of got to prove some people wrong. I didn't get any D1 offers out of high school for scholarships. So, I earned a scholarship at WSU. I mean, now I've made it into the minor leagues, got drafted by a pro team. So, it feels pretty good, but my road's not done yet.

PinstripesPlus.com: How does it feel to be honored for your academics (4.0 GPA, 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team, CoSIDA All-Academic District 8 First Team (2x), All-Pac-12 Academic First Team (2x), WSU President's Honor Roll (7x), WSU Athletics All-Academic Team (4x), 2012 Cougar Academic Top 50 Scholar Athlete) as much as you have been?

Slaybaugh: That's nice. It's something I worked hard at. It comes fairly easy to me, but it's something I've definitely put a lot of time and effort into. So, it feels good to be honored for that along with the baseball side. I mean, in college, you do have to be a student-athlete. You have to learn how to balance both those at the same time. So, it's cool to be honored for that.

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\r\n \r\n\r\nPinstripesPlus.com: Tell us what it feels like to be selected by the New York Yankees.\r\n\r\nCollin Slaybaugh: It feels great. I had gotten the call right beforehand. I talked to them earlier that morning. So my whole family was just waiting around at my house watching the draft, and then heard my name come up. Everybody just got really excited and right afterwards we ran off to the store and everybody bought Yankees gear. It just feels great to be drafted by the Yankees and then given a shot here as a senior. It's the most storied program in Major League history.\r\n\r\nPinstripesPlus.com: Talk about your game a little bit. What type of player are you and how do you see your fitting in with the Yankees?\r\n\r\nSlaybaugh: I'm a little bit of an atypical guy for the most part. The Yankees drafted me as a catcher, my primary position there, but [I have] a little different tool set than most catchers, [I'm] a little bit faster than most. I played a couple games at centerfield so far this year. I played a lot of centerfield and right field in college last year. So, it's a little different right now. I'll just go in and do whatever I can.\r\n\r\nPinstripesPlus.com: What are your strengths and your weaknesses?\r\n\r\nSlaybaugh: My strengths are definitely my versatility and speed. I'm able to help out in the outfield. I can do some of the smaller things. So, just kind of all-around versatility. And then, weaknesses? Consistency and I don't really hit for that much power so I guess that's the one flaw at my position.\r\n\r\nPinstripesPlus.com: Who would you compare your game to at the Major League level so Yankees' fans have an idea of what your game is like?\r\n\r\nSlaybaugh: I'm not sure about that. I don't know too many centerfielder/catchers. I can't really think of a good comparison.\r\n\r\nPinstripesPlus.com: Do you see yourself staying at the same position or do you think you'll be moved to another position?\r\n\r\nSlaybaugh: Personally, I see myself being a catcher, but I'm not sure yet. The coaches know a lot of more than I do. So if they tell me my future is going to be in the outfield, then I'm with that.\r\n\r\nPinstripesPlus.com: What would you say is your best moment in baseball and why?\r\n\r\nSlaybaugh: My best moment in baseball was when I was 17-years old. My summer ball team that I've been with for five years went to the Babe Ruth World Series, and we won actually. I got to catch the final out, and run with the team on the mound for a dogpile.\r\n\r\nPinstripesPlus.com: Who was your favorite team and player growing up? \r\n\r\nSlaybaugh: I'm from the Northwest up in Washington, so my favorite team growing up was the Mariners. That's what got me started on baseball, when they went on their ‘95 run, the first time they went to the playoffs. My favorite player was probably Dan Wilson. He was a catcher for the Mariners at the time.\r\n\r\nPinstripesPlus.com: What were your immediate plans after you were drafted by the Yankees? Was it your intention to sign right away and start your career immediately?\r\n\r\nSlaybaugh: Yeah. As soon as I got drafted I talked to the area scout who drafted me and we made plans to come fly as soon as possible. So I came out Monday and got everything started to get here in time for the season.\r\n\r\nPinstripesPlus.com: How does it feel to be so successful as a walk-on in college?\r\n\r\nSlaybaugh: It feels good. I kind of got to prove some people wrong. I didn't get any D1 offers out of high school for scholarships. So, I earned a scholarship at WSU. I mean, now I've made it into the minor leagues, got drafted by a pro team. So, it feels pretty good, but my road's not done yet.\r\n\r\nPinstripesPlus.com: How does it feel to be honored for your academics (4.0 GPA, 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team, CoSIDA All-Academic District 8 First Team (2x), All-Pac-12 Academic First Team (2x), WSU President's Honor Roll (7x), WSU Athletics All-Academic Team (4x), 2012 Cougar Academic Top 50 Scholar Athlete) as much as you have been?\r\n\r\nSlaybaugh: That's nice. It's something I worked hard at. It comes fairly easy to me, but it's something I've definitely put a lot of time and effort into. So, it feels good to be honored for that along with the baseball side. I mean, in college, you do have to be a student-athlete. You have to learn how to balance both those at the same time. So, it's cool to be honored for that.\r\n\r\n

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